# How to Increase Home Value: 15 Proven Ways (with ROI Data) By Opendoor Editorial Team | 2026-04-24 Knowing how to increase home value isn't just useful before you sell — it's one of the smartest financial moves a homeowner can make at any stage. Whether you have $500 or $50,000 to invest, the right improvements can return far more than they cost. This guide covers 15 proven ways to increase your home value, organized by budget, with real ROI data from the 2025 Cost vs. Value Report so you know exactly what to expect. ## How Much Can You Increase Your Home Value? Most homeowners who invest strategically can increase their home's resale value by **5% to 15%** through targeted improvements. On a $400,000 home, that's $20,000 to $60,000 in added value. The exact outcome depends on three factors: 1. What you spend money on. Exterior improvements — garage doors, entry doors, siding — consistently deliver the highest returns. Interior gut renovations often return less than 60 cents on the dollar. 2. Your baseline condition. A home with deferred maintenance will see bigger gains from basic repairs than from cosmetic upgrades. 3. Your market. In a competitive seller's market, curb appeal and move-in readiness matter more. In a slower market, buyers want updated kitchens and bathrooms. The most important thing to understand: not all improvements are created equal. Some pay you back more than you spend. Others are money pits. For a broader look at what drives your home's worth, see our complete guide to [home value](https://www.opendoor.com/articles/home-value-complete-guide). ## Quick Wins: High-ROI Updates Under $1,000 These are the improvements that consistently punch above their weight. Low cost, high perceived value, and immediately visible to buyers. ### 1. Fresh Interior Paint: $200–$800 A full interior repaint — using neutral colors like warm whites, greiges, and soft taupes — is one of the most cost-effective improvements you can make. Buyers see a clean, move-in-ready home instead of a project. Professional interior painting runs $1.50–$3.50 per square foot, but a DIY approach on a 1,500 sq ft home costs roughly $200–$400 in materials. **Expected value added: **$1,000–$3,000+ depending on home size and condition. ### 2. Curb Appeal Cleanup: $100–$500 First impressions are formed within seconds. Buyers touring your neighborhood decide before they walk in. Simple fixes that have an outsized effect: - Mulch front beds ($50–$150 in materials) - Power wash the driveway, walkway, and siding ($50–$200 as DIY) - Plant seasonal flowers near the entry ($30–$80) - Replace a rusted or dated mailbox ($35–$70) - Update house numbers with modern aluminum digits ($3–$8 per digit) **Expected value added: **Up to 7% increase in sale price, per NAR data on curb appeal. ### 3. Deep Clean + Declutter: Free–$300 A professionally cleaned home — carpets steam-cleaned, grout scrubbed, windows polished — shows dramatically better in photos and in person. Decluttering removes visual noise that makes rooms feel smaller. Combined, these steps cost almost nothing and can prevent a buyer from lowering their offer based on perceived neglect. ### 4. Upgrade Fixtures and Hardware: $150–$600 Swapping out dated brass cabinet pulls for brushed nickel, replacing a builder-grade ceiling fan with a modern one, or updating bathroom faucets can transform the feel of a room without touching a wall. These swaps signal "updated home" to buyers who don't want to do weekend projects. **Expected value added: **$500–$2,000 for full-house fixture update. ### 5. Boost Your Landscaping: $300–$900 Basic landscaping — trimmed shrubs, defined bed edges, a healthy lawn — can add 5–11% to your home's value according to the National Association of Realtors. ## Mid-Range Projects: $1,000–$10,000 Once the quick wins are done, these mid-range projects offer strong returns for motivated sellers or homeowners improving their everyday living. ### 6. Minor Kitchen Update: $1,500–$5,000 You do not need a full kitchen remodel to add value. A minor update — new cabinet hardware, a coat of paint on cabinet faces, updated light fixtures, a new faucet, and a modern backsplash — can make a dated kitchen feel current for under $3,000. **Expected value added: **$3,000–$8,000 on a mid-range refresh. ### 7. Bathroom Refresh: $1,000–$4,000 Bathrooms are the second thing buyers scrutinize after kitchens. A refresh — re-grouting tile, replacing the vanity, installing a new toilet, updating lighting, and adding a frameless mirror — costs far less than a full remodel and yields strong returns. A midrange bathroom remodel (~$26,000) returns approximately 80% of its cost per the 2025 Cost vs. Value Report. A focused refresh at $2,000–$4,000 often returns more per dollar spent. ### 8. New Flooring: $2,000–$7,000 Hardwood floors are the single most-mentioned feature in buyer searches on Zillow and Redfin. If you have hardwood under carpet, pulling the carpet costs $500–$2,000 and reveals a feature buyers actively seek. Refinishing existing hardwood runs $3–$8 per square foot. Luxury vinyl plank (LVP) is the most cost-effective new flooring choice — durable, waterproof, and looks similar to hardwood at $3–$7 per square foot installed. **Expected value added: **2–3% of home value for whole-house new flooring. ### 9. Garage Door Replacement: $4,000–$5,000 This is the single highest-ROI improvement in the entire 2025 Cost vs. Value Report. A new garage door costs an average of $4,600 and returns 248% at resale — meaning you typically recover well over twice what you spend when you sell. Garage doors are visible from the street, signal "maintained home," and a fresh steel or carriage-style door immediately modernizes curb appeal. **2025 Cost vs. Value ROI: ~248%** ### 10. Steel Entry Door Replacement: $2,400 A new steel entry door costs an average of $2,400 and returns roughly 216% of its cost at resale per the 2025 Cost vs. Value Report. A new front door also signals security and quality to buyers before they step inside. **2025 Cost vs. Value ROI: ~216%** ## Major Renovations: $10,000+ These projects add the most absolute value — but they require careful planning because the ROI percentages are lower. They're best suited for homes that are genuinely below market standard. ### 11. Manufactured Stone Veneer: ~$10,000–$12,000 Replacing a section of existing front-facing siding with manufactured stone veneer consistently ranks among the top-3 ROI projects nationally. The 2025 Cost vs. Value Report puts its return at approximately 208% — you recover more than twice the cost at resale. **2025 Cost vs. Value ROI: ~208%** ### 12. Major Kitchen Remodel: $40,000–$70,000 A full kitchen gut-and-redo is one of the lowest ROI projects at roughly 38–50% depending on the market. That said, a kitchen that is genuinely 20+ years out of date can hold back an entire home's sale price. If buyers are writing lower offers specifically because of the kitchen, a full remodel may be worth it. **Only pursue this if: **The kitchen is a structural objection for buyers, not just aesthetically dated. ### 13. Bathroom Addition: $25,000–$45,000 Adding a half or full bath — particularly converting an unfinished basement or expanding off a master bedroom — returns roughly 53% of cost at resale. Homes with more bathrooms command higher prices, particularly when the ratio of bedrooms to bathrooms is imbalanced. ### 14. Fiber-Cement Siding Replacement: $18,000–$24,000 Replacing old or failing vinyl siding with fiber-cement (James Hardie is the most recognized brand) returns approximately 114% of its cost per the 2025 Cost vs. Value data — one of the few major exterior projects where you recover more than you spend. **2025 Cost vs. Value ROI: ~114%** ### 15. Roof Replacement: $28,000–$35,000 A new asphalt shingle roof returns roughly 68% of its cost — it's a value-preserving investment, not a value-adding one. A failed or aging roof is a deal-killer: buyers demand price reductions, lenders may refuse financing, and home inspectors flag it on every report. **2025 Cost vs. Value ROI: ~68%** (but critical for sale-ability) ## What NOT to Spend Money On - Swimming pools: costs $40,000–$100,000 to install, adds roughly $10,000–$20,000 in most markets - Over-improving for the neighborhood: buyers compare to nearby sold comps — you can't exceed the neighborhood ceiling - Luxury finishes in entry-level homes: buyers in lower price ranges want function and condition, not premium finishes - High-end landscaping: a $25,000 overhaul rarely recovers its cost - Full home office conversions: removing a bedroom directly reduces appraised value and buyer pool ## Home Value Improvements by ROI: Data Table Sourced from the 2025 Cost vs. Value Report (JLC). National averages — your market may vary. | Improvement | Avg Cost | Approx Value Added | ROI % | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Garage Door Replacement | $4,600 | $11,400+ | ~248% | | Steel Entry Door Replacement | $2,400 | $5,200+ | ~216% | | Manufactured Stone Veneer | $11,000 | $22,900+ | ~208% | | Minor Kitchen Remodel (refresh) | $28,500 | $32,200+ | ~113% | | Fiber-Cement Siding | $21,500 | $24,500+ | ~114% | | Vinyl Siding Replacement | $18,000 | $17,500+ | ~97% | | Wood Deck Addition | $18,000 | $17,100+ | ~95% | | Midrange Bathroom Remodel | $26,000 | $20,800+ | ~80% | | Vinyl Window Replacement | $22,100 | $16,800+ | ~76% | | Basement Finishing | $32,000 | $22,700+ | ~71% | | Asphalt Shingle Roof Replacement | $31,900 | $21,700+ | ~68% | | Bathroom Addition (midrange) | $25,000 | $13,300+ | ~53% | | Major Kitchen Remodel | $60,000 | $22,800+ | ~38% | ## How to Prioritize Improvements Before Selling - Start with what buyers see first: curb appeal — garage door, entry door, landscaping, paint — shapes buyer perception before they step inside - Fix condition issues before adding cosmetics: a leaking roof, failing HVAC, or water-damaged walls will cost you far more in price reductions than the repair cost - Focus on kitchens and bathrooms: these are the two spaces buyers spend the most time evaluating - Price your improvements against your neighborhood ceiling: pull sold comps within a half-mile in the last 90 days - Think in terms of objection removal, not feature addition: the best pre-sale investments eliminate reasons for buyers to negotiate down ## Frequently Asked Questions **How much does adding a bathroom increase home value?** Adding a bathroom typically adds $10,000–$25,000 in home value depending on the market, size, and quality of the addition. The 2025 Cost vs. Value Report shows a midrange bathroom addition (~$25,000 cost) recovers about 53% at resale. However, the marketability benefit — faster sale, fewer low offers, more competing buyers — is often worth more than the direct dollar return. **Does landscaping increase home value?** Yes. NAR data shows that professional landscaping can increase perceived home value by 5–11%. The key is focusing on basic curb appeal — healthy lawn, trimmed shrubs, defined beds, clean walkways — rather than elaborate hardscaping. **Does a new roof increase home value?** A new roof doesn't typically increase your home's appraised value above market — it prevents your value from being discounted. Buyers and appraisers account for roof age, and a failing roof triggers inspection flags and buyer negotiations. The 2025 Cost vs. Value Report shows roughly 68% cost recovery. **How can I increase my home value without major renovations?** Focus on high-return, low-cost improvements: fresh neutral interior paint ($200–$800), curb appeal cleanup ($100–$500), fixture and hardware updates ($150–$600), deep cleaning, and decluttering. Combined, these can add $5,000–$15,000 in perceived value for under $2,000 in total spend. **What increases home value the most per dollar spent?** Per the 2025 Cost vs. Value Report, garage door replacement (~248% ROI), steel entry door replacement (~216%), and manufactured stone veneer (~208%) deliver the highest returns per dollar invested. Among interior projects, a minor kitchen refresh (~113% ROI) leads. **How to increase property value before an appraisal?** For an appraisal — rather than a sale — focus on improvements the appraiser will note: updated kitchens and bathrooms, new flooring, fresh paint, and resolved maintenance issues (roof, HVAC, foundation cracks). Cleaning, decluttering, and staging won't change the appraisal number — but documented improvements to major systems will. Already made improvements and ready to sell? [Get a competitive cash offer from Opendoor](https://www.opendoor.com/w/offers) without showings, open houses, or waiting — and close on your timeline. --- *Originally published at [https://www.opendoor.com/articles/how-to-increase-home-value](https://www.opendoor.com/articles/how-to-increase-home-value)*